Texas School District Gives First Responders Access to New Cameras

According to the Dumas ISD Police Department, the partnership between the district and law enforcement will help first responders before they arrive to the scene of an emergency by giving them vital information.

By Jessica Davis

February 22, 2019

Dumas Independent School District is adding new software and security cameras to every school and facility in the district. The cameras will be accessible by Moore County first responders in case of emergencies.

“We had an old security camera system, it just needed to be updated to where we had a better view of the entire campus and campuses and better cameras to be able to view the incidents that are going on,” said Jacob Aragon, DISD Director of Information Technology.

The updates include 500 cameras that will be accessible by first responders, including the Moore County Sheriff’s Office and Moore County Emergency Management.

According to the Dumas ISD Police Department, the partnership between the district and law enforcement will help first responders before they arrive to the scene of an emergency by giving them vital information.

“When they have to go to one of our campuses or facilities, then not only do they know where the threat is, but they also know what type of threat they’re facing,” DISD Chief of Police Larry Payne said.

Access to the cameras can be used in case of a fire, explosion, or active shooter incident, as well as for investigating potential break-ins or property damage.

“At at any time that the first responders need to go to a campus or a facility and there is a danger of loss to property or loss of life, then that becomes an event that the Emergency Operations Center could help us with,” Payne said.

Previously, first responders had less information to work with when arriving at a scene.

“We were just relying on responders showing up to the campus and maybe a teacher or one of the school police directing them where to go,” said Tommy Brooks, Moore County Emergency Management Coordinator. “Or they would just have to start somewhere in the building and start working their way through the building.”

Student safety is the priority for the district.

“No matter the emergency situation that can occur here in the district, at least we can have a plan and we can get our first responders in there safely and get all of our students out as well, safely,” Aragon said. “And limit any damage that can happen to the district and to its students.”

Payne said he hopes the software isn’t used very often, but he’s confident that the district and county law enforcement will be well-prepared should it need to be used.

“The application hopefully will sit dormant for a long time, but if something does happen, they’ll be in a position to get those cameras open in a very quick time,” Payne said.